Terms
1. Magna Carta
Magna Carta (Latin for "Great Charter", literally "Great Paper"). In 1215, King John was forced by a group of feudal Barons (男爵，贵族) and the church to grant them a charter of liberty and political rights. Magna Carta placed some limits on the king’s ability to abuse his royal power. The Magna Carta is regarded as the foundation of the British Constitutionalism（立宪制度）and it provides the basic principles（基本原则）for the protection of individual rights in both Britain and the United States.
2. The Hundred Years’ War
The Hundred Years’War was a series of wars fought between England and France over trade, Territory（领土）, security（安全）and the throne（王权）. The Hundred Years’ War promoted the concept of English Nationalism（民族主义）and the development of the textile industry because it reduced the export of English wool （羊毛）. The war raised the social position of the bourgeois（资产阶级）class. All these factors contributed to the decline of feudalism（封建制度）in England.
3. The Wars of the Roses玫瑰战争
Between 1455 and 1485 a series of battles were fought between the two branches of the Plantagenet family, the House of Lancaster, symbolized by the red rose, and the House of York, symbolized by the white rose, ended with the failure of the House of York.
4. Black Death
Black Death was the modern name given to the deadly（致命的）bubonic plague（黑死病）, an epidemic disease(流行病) spread by rat fleas（鼠疫跳蚤）. It was a fierce and widespread outbreak of plague(瘟疫) that ravaged（毁坏）the whole of Europe in the 14th century. It hit England first in 1349 with subsequent waves between 1360 and 1375 . The plague killed perhaps up to one-third of the British population. As a result of the plague, much land was left untended and there was a terrible shortage of labour.
5. The Industrial Revolution
The Industrial Revolution refers to the mechanization(机械化) of industry and the consequences in social and economic organization in Britain in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Britain was the first country to industrialize. The Industrial Revolution in Britain first began in the textile （纺织）industry.
6. Constitutional Monarchy
It is a form of government in which head of the state is a king or a queen and the monarch’s power is limited by Parliament. In practice, the Sovereign reigns, but does not rule. In English history, constitutional monarchy was established after Glorious Revolution in 1688.Queen Elizabeth II is the current monarch of the United Kingdom.
7. Civil Service
The government departments are staffed by members of the Civil Service, whose duty is to assist in carrying out the administration of laws passed by Parliament. Changes of government do not involve changes in department staff. Civil servants are recruited mainly by competitive examination.
8. The Metropolitan Police Force
The police force is responsible for the security of London, with its headquarters at New Scotland Y ard. It is directly under the control of Home Secretary. The City of London, however, has its own separate police force.
9. The City of London
The City of London is the business centre of London where large financial organizations are located, such as the Bank of England, the Stock Exchange and Lloyd’s (a famous insurance company).
10. Open University
The Open University is a non-residential university. It is so named because it is open to all to become students. The University was founded in 1969 and began its first courses in 1970.The University offers degree and other courses for adult students of all ages in Britain and the other member countries of the European Union. It uses a combination of specially produced printed texts, correspondence tuition, television and radio broadcasts and audio/video cassettes.
11. Bank Holidays
Official public holidays are also called “Bank holidays”. The term “Bank holidays” goes back to the Bank Holidays Act of 1871, which owes its name to the fact that banks are closed on the days specified.
12. The White Australia Policy
The White Australia Policy refers to the Immigration Restriction Act of 1901. (1 point) Under the White Australia Policy, only white Europeans, especially British and Irish, were allowed to migrate to Australia. (2 points) The migration of colored people such as Asians was restricted. (1 point)。